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Campaign 2008
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Posted November 4, 2008
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Why I Voted No on Prop 8
Why I Voted NO on Prop 8 I turned in my absentee ballot a couple weeks ago and just anxiously awaiting for the results Tuesday night. Amongst the many candidates and issues of concern during this historical election season, a California proposition that has been one of the most discussed propositions amongst my friends and colleagues, especially amongst the Muslims. That proposition is Proposition 8, eliminating the rights for same sex couples to wed in the State of California. As a Muslim, I personally do not agree to same sex couples being married. The Holy Quran, as many other holy scriptures, does not approve of or condemn homosexuality. "We also sent Lut: He said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds." Quran 7:80-81 "What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males, and leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are forward folk." Quran 26:165 I, of course, read up and researched all of the state propositions as I sat down with my voter pamphlet, several Web sites in front of me and a multitude of campaign ads buzzing in the background. In regards to Prop 8, and despite my personal beliefs, I voted NO. There are three reasons for why I voted against this proposition. 1. This Proposition is filled with a lot of false arguments. If you are going to have a state constitution amended, please put in a little effort to at least have all the right facts before starting a scare tactic campaign. Their main argument is that the children in California schools will be forced to be taught about same sex marriages. When I was in high school, my parents did not object to my attendance to the school’s family and health classes. During those classes, I was never once taught anything about homosexuality other then the fact that it exists and that there are support groups if needed. I went to high school in San Francisco, “the capital of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT) community!” Since the 1980’s, California law gives parents (or legal guardians) authority to approve or remove their children from attending any family and health classes if they choose too. In participating with schools and programs through the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), the structure of the family and health classes have not changed or forced any teacher to teach anything about same sex couples or marriages; not even since the ban was lifted this summer did they start teaching anything in that regards. So how is this proposition going to change what has already been placed by law? Another terrible argument is that people will be sued over their personal beliefs. What? Any form of discrimination against anyone based on their race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation is prohibited by California law. Further more, those found guilty of any form of discrimination is punished through the court of law and punished by either imprisonment or probation of some sort. So I don’t think that I will not be sued for not believing in homosexuality! The worst argument in this proposition is that it “does not discriminate against gay people.” When “eliminates the rights to …” are the opening words of a proposition, that’s discrimination! 2. The major funders of this proposition are not even Californians. Knights of Columbus of Connecticut donated over $1.4 million dollars. Also donating over a $1 million dollars were the National Organization for Marriage of New Jersey; John & Josephine Templeton of Pennsylvania, the last $100,000 of their contribution was just on the 29th of October! Are such amounts donated to propositions outside the donor’s state even legal? Other large donors (over $100,000 but less then a million) from outside of California include: Focus On the Family from Colorado Mike Murray of Washington American Family Association of Mississippi Elsa Prince of Michigan Belinda Vandersloot of Idaho Hartford Holdings LLC, David Moon and Michele Adams Watterson from Utah Concerned Women for America and U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops of Washington, DC The Vineyard Group LLC of Arizona Just to note that what grasped my attention about the funders of this proposition is that even the California based funders were usually donating less then $100,000. 3. Because I am a Muslim American. As Muslims, we are taught to not be discriminatory and judgmental to anyone. Actually, anyone being judgmental is considered an infidel. The meaning of infidel in Islam is two parts, the first is a definition of someone that partners with God and gives themselves the right to judge others; the second part is of one that rejects faith. Islam - as many scholars have publicly noted – teaches us that no one has the right to punish or force punishment upon anyone for being an “infidel” because only God can judge if one is or isn’t an infidel. People easily forget that a huge part of Prophet Mohammed’s life journey was fighting discrimination against the leaders of Qurish for not allowing those living under their rule to worship freely. The words of Prophet Mohammed is quoted to those supposed infidels and those that discriminated against him in the Holy Quran as follows, "Say: O ye that reject Faith! I worship not that which ye worship, Nor will ye worship that which I worship. And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship, Nor will ye worship that which I worship. To you be your Way, and to me mine." Quran 109:1-6 As an American, I’m free to speak, believe and to write this article of my own thoughts and opinions. How can I as an American vote to amend in our state constitution that a group of individuals are not allowed the freedom to practice what they believe in? How can I as an American claim that I am from the “free world” if I vote to eliminate a freedom to a group of individuals? That is why I voted NO on Proposition 8. Sources: www.sos.ca.gov +www.californiansagainsthate.com+ +www.noonprop8.com+ +www.protectmarriage.com+
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